Self propelled reversing toy



Aug. 1958 F. A. LETTIERI 2,846,814

SELF PROPELLED REVERSING Toy Filed Sept. 6, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

rel/W 4 AErr/E/P/ ,ATTEI RN EYB United States Patent M SELF PROPELLEDREVERSING TOY Frank A. Lettieri, Red Bank, N. J.

Application September 6, 1957, Serial No. 682,481

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) This invention relates to an amusement device ortoy. The object of the invention is to provide a movable toy whichincludes a means for automatically reversing the movement or motion ofthe toy when the toy encounters an obstacle or obstruction such as awall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy which is adapted tohave a fanciful configuration or con tour, and wherein the toy isself-propelled, the toy including a reversible motor which is adapted tobe operated by batteries, and wherein there is provided a switchmechanism for automatically reversing the motor when the toy strikes awall or other object, so that the toy will move away from the obstacleautomatically without the necessity of the user adjusting the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement devicewhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame.

Figure l is a side elevational view of the amusement device of thepresent invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the amusementdevice or toy of the present invention, and the toy 10 includes a hollowbarrel-like body portion 11 which includes a continuous outer wallmember 12 which is arcuate in cross section as shown in Figure 1 forexample. End walls 13 and 14 are provided on the body portion 11, andextending from the end wall 13 is a head member 15, while extendingoutwardly from the wall 14 is a foot-like member 16.

Extending longitudinally through the body portion 11 is a shaft 17, andpositioned below the shaft 17 is a base 18. The base 18 is adapted to beconnected to the shaft 17 by means of clamps 19.

Positioned below the base 18 is a plurality of batteries 20, and thebatteries 20 are connected to the base 18 through the medium of brackets21.

Extending upwardly from the base 18 and connected thereto, is aplurality of posts 22 which serve to support a platform 23, there beinga reversible electric motor 24 supported by the platform 23. The motor24 has a drive shaft 25 extending therefrom, and the drive shaft 25 isconnected to a drive wheel 26, the outer periphery of the wheel 26frictionally engaging the inner surface of the wall member 12. Thus, asthe motor 24 is actuated, the wheel 26 is rotated and since the wheel 26bears against the wall member 12, it will be seen that the body portion11 will rotate about an axis extending through the shaft 17 so that thedevice will move in a predetermined path or direction.

2,846,814 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 The toy of the present inventionfurther includes a switch mechanism which is indicated generally by thenumeral 27, and the switch mechanism 27 includes upstanding lugs 28which provide a pivotal support for a bar 29, through the medium of apivot pin 30. An arm 31 extends upwardly from the intermediate portionof the bar 29, and the arm 31 carries a weight 32 thereon. The ends ofthe bar 29 are adapted to selectively engage contacts 33 or 34 and thesecontacts 33 and 34 are electrically connected to the batteries 30 andmotor 24. Thus, when the contacts 34 are engaged by the end of the bar29, as for example as shown in Figure 2, the motor 24 will drive thewheel 26 in one direction so as to move the member 10 in one direction,and the member 10 is adapted to roll along a surface such as the floorsurface 35. However, when the body portion 11 strikes or contacts anobstacle or obstruction such as the wall 36, then the switch mechanism27 will be jarred so that the weight 32 will shift from the solid lineposition shown in Figure 2 to the broken line position shown in Figure 2whereby the end of the bar 29 will move out of engagement with thecontacts 34, and wherein the other end of the bar 29 will engage thecontacts 33 so as to cause the motor 24 to reverse whereby the wheel 26will be driven in the opposite direction. This opposite rotation of thewheel 26 will cause the toy to move away from the wall 36, and it willbe seen that this movement is automatic andwill be continuous withoutthe necessity of the user handling the toy.

A nose portion 37 of the toy may be constructed so as to constitute anon and off switch for the device so that when the device is not beingused, the batteries 20 will not be needlessly run down.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided anamusement device which is in the nature of a self-propelled toy, andwherein the toy will automatically reverse itself when it encounters anobstacle such as the wall 36. In use, when the switch such as the switch27 is actuated, the circuit from the batteries 20 to the motor 24 willbe completed, so that the shaft 25 will cause rotation of the wheel 26.Since the outer periphery of the wheel 26 frictionally engages theimiersurface of the wall member 12, it will be seen that actuation of themotor 24 causes the body portion 11 to roll along a surface such as thefloor The switch 27 includes the pivotally mounted bar 29 which has thearm 31 extending upwardly therefrom, and the weight 32 is arranged onthe upper end of the arm 31. Thus, when the member 10 contacts a surfacesuch as the wall 36, the weight 32 will be jarred so that for examplethe weight 32 can move or will move from the solid line position shownin Figure 2 to the broken line position shown in Figure 2 whereby thecontacts 34 will open, and the contacts 33 will close and this will havethe effect of reversing the rotation of the motor 24 so that the wheel26 will drive the member 10 in the opposite direction whereby the memberwill automatically move or back away from the wall 36 and the toy willcontinue to move in its new direction until a new obstacle or differentobstacle is encountered, wherein the switch 27 will again be jarredsufficiently to again reverse the direction of movement of the motor 24and this cycle of operation is continued as long as the switch is on.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in difierent shapesor sizes. As shown in Figure 1 for example, the head 15, body portion11, and feet 16 may be shaped to simulate a highly fanciful creature ormember such as a hobo, or clown. However, the toy may have any desiredconfiguration as desired. Furthermore, the nose on the head portion 15may be constructed or arranged so that it lights up as the toy rolls.The switch 27 controls movement of the toy. The wheel 26 may be made ofrubber or the like. When the device is turned on, the barrel-like memberwill start rolling under its own power until it strikes a wall or otherobject, and then it will reverse and start back and this action willcontinue until the toy is stopped. If desired, bells or the like can beinstalled in the device so that the device will make a suitable noise asit is operated. The batteries 20 are adapted to serve as the ballast tocounteract the torque, and the switch 27 is of the type that moves whenthe device contacts a wall so as to reverse the operation of the motor.

It will be understood of course that the invention contemplates suchother embodiments or modifications as may occur to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. In a toy, a hollow body portion of barrel-like formation, and saidbody portion including a continuous outer wall member which is arcuatein cross section, first and second end walls on the ends of said bodyportion, a head member extending from said first end wall, a foot-likemember extending from the other end wall, a shaft extendinglongitudinally through said body portion, a base positioned below saidshaft, clamps connecting said base to said shaft, a plurality ofbatteries positioned below said base, brackets connecting said batteriesto said base, a switch mechanism supported by said base, posts extendingupwardly from said base, a platform secured to said posts, a reversiblemotor mounted on said platform, a drive wheel arranged in frictionalengagement with the inner surface of the wall member of the bodyportion, said drive wheel being connected to said motor, said switchmechanism including a pivotally mounted bar, an arm extending upwardlyfrom said bar, a weight on the upper 4 end of said arm, and spaced apartcontacts adapted to be selectively actuated by said bar.

2. In a toy, a hollow body portion of barrel-like formation, and saidbody portion including a continuous outer wall member which is arcuatein cross section, first and second end walls on the ends of said bodyportion, a head member extending from said first end wall, a foot-likemember extending from the other end wall, a shaft extendinglongitudinally through said body portion, a base positioned below saidshaft, clamps connecting said base to said shaft, a plurality ofbatteries positioned below said base, brackets connecting said batteriesto said base, a switch mechanism supported by said base, posts extending upwardly from said base, a platform secured to said posts, areversible motor mounted on said platform, a drive wheel arranged infrictional engagement with the inner surface of the wall member of thebody portion, said drive wheel being connected to said motor, saidswitch mechanism including a pivotally mounted bar, an arm extendingupwardly from said bar, a weight on the upper end of said arm, spacedapart contacts adapted to be selectively actuated by said bar, said headmember, body portion and foot-like member simulating a fancifulcreature, and whereby the toy is constructed so that when the bodyportion rolls into contact with an obstruction, the

switch mechanism moves to reverse rotation of the motor,

and drive wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,263,262 McFaul Apr. 16, 1918 1,887,823 Smith Nov. 15, 1932 2,683,956Conte July 20, 1954

